Security concerns close schools to students even for local elections

Published: Wednesday, February 6, 2013 at 4:53 p.m.

Last Modified: Wednesday, February 6, 2013 at 4:52 p.m.

Students won't be in schools when voters go to the polls for school board and some municipal elections this November, assuming the latest version of the 2013-14 school calendar is approved.

The change reflects an increased focus on safety, elections and school officials say.

During election years for school boards and various municipalities, schools (many doubling as polling locations) have historically remained open. Schools are generally closed in election years for larger state-wide races with greater voter turnout, like last year.

With this year's Nov. 5 Election Day approaching, Henry Laye, director of the Spartanburg County Office of Registrations and Elections, took the issue of closing schools to local superintendents for consideration.

“We have been discussing this with the superintendents for some time now, but particularly accelerated the conversation after the Sandy Hook shooting,” Laye said. “As an additional safety measure, the students did not need to be in school with voters coming in and out and basically bypassing the normal security measures.”

In addition to the school board races, Laye said the cities of Spartanburg and Landrum and the towns of Pacolet and Central Pacolet will also have seats up for election in November.

All seven school districts must adopt the altered calendar for it to go into effect, and some boards still haven't seen the newest draft. The Spartanburg districts generally work together to create a calendar each year, so schedules don't differ district-to-district.

District 5's school board unanimously approved the calendar at its meeting last week.

Superintendent Scott Turner said that closing schools for elections is an issue parents have raised, although no safety issues have been reported. He noted that the day off in November would tack one more day onto the end of the school year. Districts can't adjust the calendar any earlier as state law requires the school year begin no sooner than the third week in August.

District 7 Superintendent Russell Booker addressed the matter with the school board at a meeting on Tuesday. He said that marking Election Day 2013 a holiday was a reasonable request, especially in light of recent safety concerns on a national scale.

“It will ensure there are no safety issues with people being in and out of our buildings on that day, and certainly if it makes the elections process go more smoothly, we're all for it,” Booker said.

<p>Students won't be in schools when voters go to the polls for school board and some municipal elections this November, assuming the latest version of the 2013-14 school calendar is approved.</p><p>The change reflects an increased focus on safety, elections and school officials say.</p><p>During election years for school boards and various municipalities, schools (many doubling as polling locations) have historically remained open. Schools are generally closed in election years for larger state-wide races with greater voter turnout, like last year.</p><p>With this year's Nov. 5 Election Day approaching, Henry Laye, director of the Spartanburg County Office of Registrations and Elections, took the issue of closing schools to local superintendents for consideration.</p><p>“We have been discussing this with the superintendents for some time now, but particularly accelerated the conversation after the Sandy Hook shooting,” Laye said. “As an additional safety measure, the students did not need to be in school with voters coming in and out and basically bypassing the normal security measures.”</p><p>In addition to the school board races, Laye said the cities of Spartanburg and Landrum and the towns of Pacolet and Central Pacolet will also have seats up for election in November.</p><p>All seven school districts must adopt the altered calendar for it to go into effect, and some boards still haven't seen the newest draft. The Spartanburg districts generally work together to create a calendar each year, so schedules don't differ district-to-district.</p><p>District 5's school board unanimously approved the calendar at its meeting last week.</p><p>Superintendent Scott Turner said that closing schools for elections is an issue parents have raised, although no safety issues have been reported. He noted that the day off in November would tack one more day onto the end of the school year. Districts can't adjust the calendar any earlier as state law requires the school year begin no sooner than the third week in August.</p><p>District 7 Superintendent Russell Booker addressed the matter with the school board at a meeting on Tuesday. He said that marking Election Day 2013 a holiday was a reasonable request, especially in light of recent safety concerns on a national scale.</p><p>“It will ensure there are no safety issues with people being in and out of our buildings on that day, and certainly if it makes the elections process go more smoothly, we're all for it,” Booker said.</p>